CATHERINE BELL BIRTH CARTOGRAPHER
  • Home
    • About
    • Is IBP for You?
    • Informed Decisions
    • Birth Support (doulas)
    • FAQs
    • Contact
    • information policy
  • Birth Cartography training
    • Retreat
    • Intensive
  • THE BOOK
    • The Birth Map
    • ORDER TODAY
    • Event Pick up
    • Where can I buy the book?
    • Reviews and Testimonials
    • Talking about The Birth Map
  • Bellablog
  • Events
  • Stay up to Date
    • Newsletter Archive
    • StoryTime
  • Member Area
    • Support Group Discussion
    • Webinars and podcasts
    • links and recommended books
    • Resources (research articles)
    • One Woman. Four Births
    • Birth Map Example
Sign up to the newsletter to be notified of new posts, along with other content. 
​Or you can join the Member Area,
​which will give you access to even more content and add you to the newsletter list.
​Use the search box to search the entire site, or click on a topic to find blogposts.  
Selected Articles by Catherine ​around the web:
bellabirth.wordpress.com | evolutionary parenting | pregnancy.com.au | 
​| birth without fear | newborn mothers | PBBMedia |
Picture

What about the cord?

19/12/2015

0 Comments

 

One of the biggest questions surrounding birth is 'What about the cord?'

Many people have a sense of urgency that the cord must be clamped and cut in a dramatic and special way.  This is not the case.  Far from it in fact.
Picture
If you have never before heard of 'Lotus Birth', sit down.  

You do not have to cut the cord.  AT ALL.
This is called Lotus Birthing.

And yes, this means that the baby remains attached to the placenta.  

After a few days the cord (and placenta) come away from the baby and can be discarded, planted or done with as you please.

If this seems too much, keep in mind that once the cord is thin, dry, hard and bloodless...then you don't need to worry about the tie. The first few hours are about skin to skin contact, rest and breastfeeding. You can keep the placenta in a bowl next to baby. So if you are comfortably in bed, holding your baby, the placenta can be in a bowl next to you. No drama, no worries. Uninterrupted.  Then after a few hours, you can cut the cord (about 10cm away from the belly, longer is better) without tying.  The placenta can be encapsulated, printed, eaten, planted or frozen.

With this in mind, you can relax.  If you find yourself birthing without assistance (as you may in the event of a fast birth), simply leave the cord alone.  Don't pull on it, don't clamp it, don't cut it.  

BUT WHAT IF THE CORD IS AROUND THE BABY'S NECK!

There is a lot of misunderstanding about nuchal cords (cord around the neck).  The cord around neck is rarely a problem, and the 'somersault manoeuver' (see below) is useful to know about. Understanding nuchal cords and this manoeuver can be very reassuring in the event of an unassisted birth.  It is also helpful to understand even when being assisted, as you will be more aware of the language and less likely to feel anxious or confused about this situation.  Knowledge is Power!

Midwife Thinking has written an excellent article discussing nuchal cords.

The video below demonstrates the somersault manoeuver. As you watch it, keep in mind that demo is using a dummy.  In real life, the mother would (ideally) be not on her back.  The baby would be expelled by contractions and slipout (you absolutely do not need to tug at the baby or separate the mother's labia.).  If you see the cord is around the neck, this manoeuver helps to avoid pulling the cord.  The baby can then be passed onto the mother's body.  Keep in mind the length of the cord.  Sometimes, you may only be able to have the baby low (if the cord is short), sometimes you can place the baby can reach the mother's chest.  Either way, skin to skin contact with mum, is the aim.   Once the placenta is birthed, you can adjust the placement.


WHAT IF THERE IS A KNOT IN THE CORD?

You may have heard that in rare situations a baby has a 'true knot' in the umbilical cord (see the image above).  For this, I encourage you to read this article by midwife, Jane Palmer.


AND WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH DELAYED CORD CLAMPING?

At some point you are likely to heard about delayed cord clamping, the evidence supports it, and it is increasingly becoming standard practise (to varying degrees).  You still need to request it, however, and discuss it with your care provider to find out just what they consider standard.  If this differs to what you want, you will need to discuss this with them to ensure your needs are met.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Topics

    All
    Autonomy
    Babymoon
    Baby Stuff
    Babywearing
    Birth History
    Birth Map
    Birth Plan
    Birth Preparation
    Birth Stories
    Birth Trauma
    Birth Types
    Book Review
    Breastfeeding
    Breech
    Caesarean
    Consent
    Doula
    Evolution
    Fear
    Feminism
    Five Stages Of Being
    Gbs
    Gestational Diabetes
    Guest Post
    History
    Hypnobirth
    Induction
    Informed Decisions
    Introducing Solids
    Iv Fluids
    Kangaroo Care
    Labour
    Motherhood
    Natural Learning
    Normal
    Parenting
    Placenta
    Poetry
    Postnatal Depression
    Quotes
    Relationships
    Resources
    Risk
    Self Care
    Sex
    Sleep
    Spd
    Squatting
    Summer Pregnancy
    Support
    The Cord
    The Nocebo Effect
    Toilet Training
    Twins
    Ultrasound
    Vaccination
    Visual Birth Plan
    Vitamin K


​About | The Book | Member Area | FAQs | ​Contact 
Picture
All links are GOLD.  
External links open in a new page.
 ​I endeavour to only link to safe and non-spam websites.
​ ​This website, and any provided links and reviews, ​are intended as information only.  

How you use this is up to you.
Picture
Catherine is a member of the Doula Network Australia
 This website (including the Member Area) is free to access and free of adverts,
​thanks to sales of The Book and purchases from The Ultimate Support collection (redbubble)

Share what you love in your social networks and
SIGN UP TO THE NEWSLETTER
Photos used under Creative Commons from Editor B, Darling Starlings, SO Beach Party, Leonard Bentley, IQRemix, sybarite48, C. VanHook (vanhookc), lemonfilmblog, State Library of South Australia, Someone's Name, edenpictures, ShebleyCL, MassiveKontent, symphony of love, Kelly Sue, szwerink, Dawn Endico, fortfan, Jim Linwood, symphony of love, JLaw45, jacilluch
  • Home
    • About
    • Is IBP for You?
    • Informed Decisions
    • Birth Support (doulas)
    • FAQs
    • Contact
    • information policy
  • Birth Cartography training
    • Retreat
    • Intensive
  • THE BOOK
    • The Birth Map
    • ORDER TODAY
    • Event Pick up
    • Where can I buy the book?
    • Reviews and Testimonials
    • Talking about The Birth Map
  • Bellablog
  • Events
  • Stay up to Date
    • Newsletter Archive
    • StoryTime
  • Member Area
    • Support Group Discussion
    • Webinars and podcasts
    • links and recommended books
    • Resources (research articles)
    • One Woman. Four Births
    • Birth Map Example